Development
Short Questions
Question: What is the main idea discussed in the chapter “Development”?
Answer: The chapter discusses different meanings, goals, and measures of development among individuals and countries.
Question: Why do different persons have different notions of development?
Answer: Because their life situations and needs are different.
Question: What is per capita income?
Answer: It is the total income of a country divided by its total population.
Question: Which organisation publishes the Human Development Report?
Answer: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Question: What is the main criterion used by the World Bank to classify countries?
Answer: Per capita income.
Question: What does HDI stand for?
Answer: HDI stands for Human Development Index.
Question: Which Indian state has the lowest infant mortality rate according to the chapter?
Answer: Kerala.
Question: What does infant mortality rate indicate?
Answer: It indicates the number of children who die before the age of one per 1000 live births in a year.
Question: What is meant by literacy rate?
Answer: It is the percentage of literate people among those aged seven and above.
Question: Name one non-material goal of development.
Answer: Freedom and security are examples of non-material goals.
Question: What is meant by sustainable development?
Answer: It means development that meets present needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Question: Which country among India’s neighbours has the highest HDI rank?
Answer: Sri Lanka.
Question: What is the meaning of public facilities?
Answer: Public facilities are services provided collectively for the welfare of society, like education and health care.
Question: Why is income not a sufficient indicator of development?
Answer: Because it does not show how income is distributed or people’s quality of life.
Question: What is the message of the statement “We have borrowed the Earth from our children”?
Answer: It means we must use resources wisely to protect the future generation’s needs.
Long Questions
Question: Explain why different people have different developmental goals.
Answer: People have different occupations, income levels, and social conditions, so their needs and desires differ. For example, a landless labourer wants more employment, while a rich farmer wants higher prices for crops. Thus, development means different things to different people.
Question: Why is average income not a perfect measure of development?
Answer: Average income hides inequalities in distribution. A country may have high average income, but most people may be poor while a few are very rich. Therefore, it does not show how wealth is shared among people.
Question: How is per capita income calculated and why is it used?
Answer: Per capita income is calculated by dividing the total income of a country by its total population. It helps compare the economic development of different countries by showing the average income of people.
Question: Compare the developmental indicators of Haryana, Kerala, and Bihar.
Answer: Haryana has the highest per capita income, but Kerala performs better in health and education with low infant mortality and high literacy. Bihar ranks lowest in both income and social indicators.
Question: What are the main components of the Human Development Index (HDI)?
Answer: HDI includes per capita income, life expectancy at birth, and educational level of people. These indicators together show the overall quality of human life in a country.
Question: Why are public facilities important for development?
Answer: Public facilities like education, healthcare, and clean water benefit everyone and improve the quality of life. They help achieve equality and ensure basic needs even for those who cannot afford private services.
Question: Explain the concept of sustainable development with an example.
Answer: Sustainable development means using resources wisely so that future generations are not deprived. For example, overuse of groundwater can lead to shortages later, so we must use it carefully.
Question: How does the UNDP’s method of measuring development differ from the World Bank’s?
Answer: The World Bank uses only per capita income, while UNDP includes health, education, and income indicators, making it a more comprehensive measure of development.
Question: Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Answer: Because overuse of natural resources can lead to their exhaustion, harming future generations. Sustainable development ensures long-term welfare and balance between growth and environment.
Question: What lessons can India learn from Sri Lanka in terms of human development?
Answer: Sri Lanka has achieved higher literacy, better health, and higher HDI rank despite lower income. India can focus more on improving education, healthcare, and equality to achieve better human development.
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